BOGOTA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 83 others injured after a Colombian military aircraft crashed in southern Colombia's Putumayo region on Monday, with 14 of the wounded in critical condition, said Putumayo Governor Jhon Gabriel Molina.
There were 114 passengers and 11 crew members on board the C-130 Hercules transport plane, Carlos Silva, commander of the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC), said in a video posted by the FAC on X, adding that an investigative team has been sent to determine the causes of the crash.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X earlier Monday that a transport plane went down during takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo. He added that military units were at the scene, and the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Sanchez expressed his "sincere condolences" to the families of the victims, noting that all care protocols have been activated to support those affected.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro thanked the people who rushed to the crash site to save the lives of those aboard. ■
